Method of packaging hangered garments



y 1953 c. B. BLESSING 2,639,566

METHOD OF PACKAGING HANGERED GARMENTS Filed July 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet1 I I I I I l I I I I l CHARLES e. aLEssm's Inventor 6*; A/ W Altar y1953 c. B. BYLESSING 2,639,566

METHOD OF PACKAGING HANGERED GARMENTS Filed July 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet2 CHARLES B. BLESSIHG May 26; I953 c. B. BLESSING METHOD OF PACKAGINGHANGERED GARMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1949 .lllll' -IIIII :lllxllalrnilililluaixilis:linal 1G. 6 CHARLES B. BLESSING m for AtfarhoyFiled July 5, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 17953 c. B. BLESSING 2,639,566

METHOD OF PACKAGING HANGERED GARMENTS 7 y 1953 c. B. BLESSING 2,639,566

METHOD OF PACKAGING HANGERED GARMENTS Filed July 5, 1949 5 sheets sheet5 INV EN TOR. Char/es Z3. B/css/ng ATTORNEY Patented May 26, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF PACKAGING HANGERED GARMENTS CaliforniaOriginal application May 10, 1949, Serial No.

1949, Serial No. 103,027

1 Claim.

This application contains divisional subject matter taken fromapplication Serial No. 352,897, filed August 16, 1940, now abandoned,Serial No. 654,400, filed March 14, 1946, now abandoned, and Serial No.92,259, filed May 10, 1949, and which is now Patent No. 2,479,552,granted August 23, 1949.

This invention relates to the formation of a. bag or envelope about anarticle; the invention will be particularly described as it has beenapplied to the packaging of garments, but it is broadly applicable tothe packaging of any other suitable item.

It has been usual heretofore to package a cleaned garment in apreviously formed bag. This operation is slow and expensive, requiring apreformed stock of bags of different lengths which must be selected tofit the length of the garment to be protected. In accordance with thepresent invention, a roll of flat tubular stock is provided from which asuitable length is formed as needed into a bag which is positioned aboutthe garment to be packaged, the flat tubular stock being cut to provideopposite out side portions of the tubular stock and to leave uncut acentral portion, each out side portion being folded and fastened,leaving the central portion intact and providing a connection with theremainder of the tubular stock so that this can be drawn into placepreparatory to the packaging of another item. Afterwards, the centralportion is severed and the packaged item removed.

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide anovel method for the formation of an envelope for a garment or the likefrom tubular stock.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, together with the foregoing, Will appear hereinafter wherein thepresent preferred form of practicing the method of this invention isdisclosed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a machine which can be employed topractise the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the machine shown in Figure 1, illustratingthe machine in further detail.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section of one embodiment of acutting mechanism and a folding and a stapling mechanism actuator.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the cutting andstapling mechanism along lines 4- l in Figures 3 and 6.

Figure 4a. is a section at line 4a4a. of Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a detail of the stapling machine in operated position. r

Divided and this application July 5,

Figure 5a is a fragmentary view of the stapling mechanism in retractedposition, the folding mechanism also being shown in retracted position.

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing a modified embodiment of theclothes hanger support and fold line control.

Figures 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e show parts of the collapsible hangersupport of Figure 6.

Figure 7 illustrates a modified mechanism for feeding paper, cutting,holding the center for folding, and actuating the folding and staplingmechanism.

Figures 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d show a further modification of the mechanismfor folding and fastening a cover about a supported garment.

Figure 9 illustrates another form of collapsible garment hanger support.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a complete form of the machine forpractisin this invention.

Figures 11 and 12 are steps in the method utilized for formation of abag or envelope while Figure 13 illustrates a completed envelope.

The invention is conveniently practised utilizing a machine such as thatshown in Figures 1 and 2 wherein the garment it on hanger I2 is hookedon a recess i l in the upper end of an inclined post it. The garmenthangs to a point [8 opposite a point between graduations 3 and 4. A flattube of paper 28, made up of two sheets 30! and 302, is drawn from aroll of tubular paper stock 22 and over an upper guide roll 24 outthrough slot 25 onto the face 26 of frame 28 so that its lower open end2| stops at a point between graduations 3' and 4, and envelopes thegarment, hanger, and post it, as indicated in Figures 2 and 6, fullycovering the garment, and having passed under the cutter 30 for cuttingfrom 32 to 3 on each side of the sheet.

The paper is then cut from 32 to 34 in each direction from center andthe corners 36 and 38 are turned inward and fastened as at 40 and 42 byadhesive tape or by suitable staples thus forming a tapered shoulderedbag, the same remaining in bond with the supply of stock from 32 to 32.By pulling the paper at the midline the stock is pulled from under theknife 38 and to the full line position of Figure 2. The portion of paperfrom 32 to 32 is now cut off, leaving the stock ready for the next bagand garment. The completed bag is now pulled fully down over the garmentas indicated at IS in Figures 2 and 6.

To remove the garment the operator grasps the upper end of the post Itand the hanger hook 44, tilts the post and garment forwardly andslipsthe garment, hanger, and bag, endwise away from 3 the pivot 46. Asuitable spring 48 returns the post to stop 50 which spaces the postfrom the face 26 of the frame 28.

The bag 52 so made can be slipped from the garment downwardly when inthe customers closet, it being necessary only to break the tapes 40 and42 or to remove the staples; the corners 38 do not dog-ear. Obviously,the steps outlined can be practised with suitable manual operations andwith various mechanical devices.

The distances between the graduations i and I, and between thegraduations 2 and 2-, and so on in Figure 2, represent the distancebetween the top of the hanger I2 and the cutter 30 so that when thefinished bag is pulled" down it will cover the garment to the correctlength, avoiding an oversupply of covering and also avoiding a shortageof covering.

Fold lines 54 and 56 are defined, in this modification, by the points 32and the break may be effected over pivoted barriers 58 biased to lines54 and 50 by springs 60 against stops 62. When the fold has beeneffected the barrier members are removed from their position within thefold by rotation inwardly, downwardly, and outwardly to slip out of thenotches 64 incident to downward pull on the bag 52 to position of Figure2.

Member Hi and the spring 48 are preferably of light weight andcomparatively weal; action respectively in order to protect the bagagainst tearing in the event the operator lifts the hanger out of I4 andpulls the post I6 against the bag, in which event the post will simplydeflect forwardly and allow the bag to slide oif the same. Theinclination of the post I8 is to provide for lieeping the post in stableposition even though several suits or other garments are hung thereon,

leaving the center of gravity of the post and its load rightward of thepivot 46 as viewed in Figure l. A plurality of rolls of tubular paper 22are provided simply to render the machine a storage point for a reservesupply of the tubularstock.

While the cutting may be effected by many desirable types of cuttingdevices, thev preferred embodiment of cutting device 30 as illustratedin Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10, is carried by a frame 66 attached by feet.68 to plate 20 at opposite ends of blade-groove, or slit, I0. A bladecarrier I2 is movable to the rightin Figure. 3 and down toward the slitvI and alongit, to carry the cutting blades l6 through the paper Whichlies through the passage '68 between thev frame 66 and the face plate26. Pins I4 fastened in blade carrier I2 passthrough cam slots 88 intheframe 66. Movement of the carrier I2 to the right in Figure 3 causes theblade tips I6 to move rapidly down along path indicated by the dottedlines 82, and then in a slightly inclined direction along the lines 84to cut the stock from 32 to 34. as shown in- Figure 2. The carriage andmovement of a second blade carrier 12' is like that of carrier I2 exceptthat it moves tov the left in Figure 2 to cut the paper from 32 to 34,as at the left side of the stock in Figure 2. The advantage of moving inopposite directions from the center is that there is no tendency towrinkle the stock. lEhe advance of the blade into the stock while pointI6 follows path 84 insures that all points along the blade cut paperthus distributing the wear on the cutting edge. Several blades are usedso that each needs to move only slightly more than its own length,reducing the swing of operating members. Reciprocation of the bladecarriers in opposite directions may be accompushes at a single operationby centralcrank pin 4 8% around the axis of which, rotate the crank arms88 to the ends of which are linked the links 90 and 90 freely rotatingon pins 92 and 92' carried by the blade carriers I2 and I2. Rotation of88 causes the movement of the carriers in opposite directions. Pin 86finds bearing support in the frame 66 and a supporting bracket 94carried by the frame, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Blades I6 areremovably secured to the carrier by thumbnuts 96.

The movement of the blade carriers may be eifected by fastening pin 86to arm 88 and connecting the pin 86 to a lever 96 for rotation to eifectcutting. This action may, however, be effected from the end of thecutter by a link I00 pivoted to the carrier I2 and to a lever 02 pivotedat I04. This lever when actuated will cause movement of the bladecarriers in opposite directions. The arms 88 are enclosed by a housingbracket I06.

The folding operation is preferably effected mechanically, as by hinginga portion of the plate 25 beneath the foldline, as shown at 08, thetriangular cut out flap I I2 leaving a strip l W adjacent the cuttinggroove l'0. The operation of the flap I I2 is effected from the leverI02 through a transversely sliding link IIi. A bracket H6 is secured tothe flap H2 and joined to the reciprocating member l M by a pitman I I8and universal joints I20 and I22 whereby reciprocating movement of theslide member II4 produces rotation of the flap from the dotted-lineposition in Figure 4, to the full-line position of Figure 4 to cause afold in the stock along the line 54. A lost motion linkage at P24provides that the flap I I 2 is operated only after the blades have cutthe paper. Slots permit over travel of the blades after cutting topermit the folding operation. Retraction of the blades is. effectedbefore the flaps II2 return to their position flush with the plate 26.The foldline terminus at 64 is assured by the bowed leaf spring 58',which permits the stock 52 to slide thereunder incident to feeding thestock and which is flattened by the plate, offering no considerableresistance. A spiral spring 60' locates and relocates the member 56 atthe desired radius.

7 It is desired to fasten the fold near the foldline 54, and this may bedone with a. conventional stapler I26 having its anvil portion I28secured to the plate 26 as by means of a plate I30 having trunnion earsI32 and pivoted to lugs I34 on opposite sides of a recess I36 adjacentthe pivot line in the plate 26, said lugs I34 being secured to the plate26 and providing for the pivoting of the p1ate I30 parallel to axis ofhinges I08 on pivot I48. Plate I30 includes hooks I38 which, with theplate 26, serves to retain the anvil portion I28. in position. A springlatch I40 passes through both the plate I30 and the anvil 526.

The movable portions of the stapler MI and I42, respectively carryingthe. pusher and the magazine members, are detachably secured to the IiapIIZ. bytrunnion ears I44 and adapter I46 rigidlyseoured to member MI andpivoted to said ears I44 by a pin I50 parallel to axis of I46. A recessI36 isprovided in flap II2 for the passage therethrough of staples: andthe stapling head I 42. The pivot; pins I48 and I50 are so spaced as toensure; that when the stapler is in fastening position,the. staple iscaused to engage and pass through the paper near the fold made as anincident. to the folding operation, as illustrated in Figure 5. Thepivots are spread apart for r traction of the staple ejector in theposition mien with plate 26 as illustrated in Figure a. The stapler I26is of such size or so located that it can pass through the openingformed by the folding movement of the flap II 2. With the plate 26 in aninclined position the folding and stapling action of the flap H2 isaccelerated by gravity, the longer leverage of the plate I I2 addingthereto By modifying the construction the paper may be entirely out fromthe center line CL. The blades 16 are positioned to effect a cutentirely across the stock. Resilient rubber hold-down strips I52 arecarried by the carrier bars 12 and 12' and engage the cut-off portion ofpaper to the points 32, as shown in Figures 3 and 7. After the flaps II2are returned to starting position, the paper is fed past the knifeposition by feed mechanism I54 of conventional design carried above theknife position as illustrated in Figure 7 wherein the stock isillustrated as fed over the fiap II2.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the flap may be actuated by a slider I I4sliding along the edge of the plate 26 and connected to an arm II6' by auniversally connected link II8. Slider II4' may be connected by a pawlarrangement to the vmechanism I54 so that the final movement of theslider feeds the paper sufficiently far so that the operator can engagethe same to pull it over the post I6. The timing is such that the flap II2 returns to full line position of Figure '7 before the stock feeds tothe upper edge thereof, and such that the rubber hold-down strips I52are retracted before the stock feed reaches their position so that thestock clears all operating mechanism. v I

In the modification of Figure 6 the barriers are dispensed with and thesame result is obtained by forming the plate 26 with a ridge thereacrossat I58 to intersect at the lower fold terminus 64 as indicated inFigures 2 and 4. The paper stock is pulled down over this angle andoffers suflicient resistance to deformation on the surface I 68therebelow to prevent the paper from rolling beyond the ridge, while theupper corners 32 are held as in Figure 2 or by the hold-downs I52. Thebarriers 58 and 68 are thereby dispensed with.

As illustrated in Figure 6 the cutting, folding and fastening may beentirely effected from a foot lever I62 through a pitman I64 andsuitable bell cranks I66 and I12 carried by shaft I68 mounted intrunnions I18 on the frame I14 and suitably connected to actuate lever I82 and slider H4 in Figure 3 or connected to actuate lever I82 in Figure3 and slider H4 in Figure '7. The foot lever I62 is preferably insured afull stroke by a full stroke pawl I16 biased by spring I18 and slidingon stationary notched arc I88 over the extent of which it must slidebefore being permitted a reversal.

In order to prevent the tearing of bags by the negligent operator animproved form of postyis provided and shown in Figure 6 tocomprisetelescoping member I82, I84 and I86. The stationary telescopingmember I82 is fixed to the base I88 of the supporting structure "4 andis provided with a generally vertically disposed slot I82 for thereception therethrough of a pin I88 and a pin I86 on the telescopingmember I84 and I86 respectively. Slot I92 terminates in a ledge I84adapted to receive and support the pin I88 in a slight swell. The ledgecommunicates from its offset position with the vertical slot by a camwaysection I88. This camway is provided to insure entry of the pin I88 intorecess I84 in response to an upward pull on movable telescoping memberI84, and also to insure its removal from said recess when it is requiredthat the post collapse as will be explained presently.

Telescoping member I 84 is provided with a vertical slot 288 for thereception of the pin I96 fitted in the lower end of the member I86. Slot288 lies adjacent the pin I98 and provides a recess 282 beneath the pinI88 and a hooked recess 284 for reception of the pin I86. The upper end286 of member I86 is beveled and provided with a hanger receiving slot288. This slot may be spiralled as shown in Figure 6e for a purpose tobe explained.

Pin I86 and slot 288 are smaller than pin I88 and slot I92. lies inalignment with the lower side 2 I8 of camway I98. Pin I96 is long enoughto extend partially outwardly of slot 288 and into the slot I82. Inorder to permit passage of pin I86 to slot I82 the grooves 2I2 and 2I4are provided for its passage from either of its possible angularpositions with respect to the base member I82.

Considering the post to be extended upwardly and the pins I98 and I86 intheir respective recesses I84 and 284, the post is collapsed by turningthe top member, as by means of pulling the hanger straight up throughthe spiral slot 2I6. Such turning of the member I86 causes at least oneof the pins I86 or I94 to move out of its recess. The weight of themember or members carried by the pins released causes the member ormembers to drop.

Assuming that only pin I96 is released from its recess 284 by therotation of the topmost member it will be clear that the member I86drops and pin I 86 follows slot 288, passes through groove 2 I 4 andstrikes on cam surface 2 I 8. Since the pin I86 is in engagement withthe left side of slot 282 and traveling with considerable energy, thereaction of the cam 2 I8 is to move the member I84 so that slot 288moves toward registry with slot I82 and so that pin I98 moves intocamway I88. Accordingly, member I84 drops in response to its release bymember I86.

Because pin I98 must slide in slot I82, slot 288 moves past registrywith slot I 92. Since pin I96 is now in slot I82 the recess 282 permitsrotation of the member I84 relative to pin I86 at the time pin I86strikes cam 2"). Member I86 and I84 move down together. On the upmovement sections I84 and I86 may move together, provided pin I96 staysin recess 282. In this case pin I 88 is forced into recess 284 and pin I86 passes on through grooves 2I4. If pin I96 precedes pin I98 upwardly,the latching is effected by manually rotating the pins into the ledgerecesses.

If it happens that section I84 is first to release in the collapse ofthe standard, it pulls pin I86 against the cam 2I8 and releases memberI86 to travel down in section I84, member I86 being retractable intomember I86 to permit it to clear member I82. To this end member I86 ismounted on the leaf spring I retractable into recess 2I8 in member I86.

By providing the spiral notch 2I6 in member I86 the slight upward androtational thrust produced by the upward pull of the hanger produces asufficient rotation and lift of the member I86 to release it firstwithout releasing the member I84. The entire stand is insured to dropout of the bag 52 whichever section is released.

The standard must be extended to its full length in order to insure thatthe fabrication of With pin I98 in recess I94 slot 288 the bag QL-IWQLYSteem-s at; a definite distant-es move the garment and so tliat theYeti-g is riot fie'd 1mg. To this end it win he noted that the release6f member P36" prior to the tifi'i itfif pifr is seated permits thedropping 0% both memeews fie the fulIy' retracted position.Iii-as'ffihcfi as Ifii'hber 1'86 forces member I'M- td extend itselffirst; the release of member we Eefoi'e it efitefs reeese 1664 resultsin coliapse-of member I also; If mem 681" m2 shoxild happen tobereleasedsin 1-95 is released by dam groove 7H3 wfiifi" is ifi thepath Of" it'sYr'itW'niefit and tfi-idte'd t6 fGr-'e pin 19% into groove 2% and toslide ihside tube I 82 until it free to -move Ia tei-afly in fcss 262:

Another method of making abag cfo'fnr is illustrated in Figures 8h 8d.A-fti the 13812381 is out corners are rolled and their the r'qH's 831'sflattenedand fastened as is sfidw'fi m" Fig-- u-re as. This makes astrong, rigid joifi-t'; Tfie mechanism usesi replaces the fltri's' H2and mm prises a, SEifiemBRI-ber Q-ZZ trav'efiflgaeoveten track 225 inpT'a-teZGi After the cut of thepafiei' is made, the mechanism,i-ficl'fiding fofdmg siou 22S, slides agai'fist' tfie corner 3 in atd'ii'eefiib'ri which it;- normsf to the-desitedfem ne- 55; The papersoengaged rails withi m the" sefolls arm, when a su'fficiem rellifig hasbeen effected; the faster'i'er stapler IZ'B- operatedto flettrf thepaper and-fasten it-togetfier.

The method of 'pacliagmg a; hzezigered germezit which does I lothav'es'l'iifiient rigidity to St'-fid a'lonecomprising supperting thegarment on a hanger, said hanger being"-siipitiorted fiom-wpoint garmentis freely hangin in vertical position OTHER REFERENCES Packing &Shipping, June 1936, page 4-.

